East Bound and Down leads to thoughts...

[Time Monkey]

Season one.

When asked if he would like to train for a triathlon, Danny McBrides character quips...


"I play real sports. I'm not trying to be the best at excersizing."im



Today, my room mate was bragging about his ability to run 10k. (Which I giggle at runners for. Just say its 6 miles, pansy. We aren't euros.)

Now, I can barely run 1 mile, so I have to give him credit there.

But this is the same guy that is a complete wuss in team sport situations. He gets knocked on his ass on the court, he is afraid being hit by the pitch, has stone hands playing football...

He really is only good at exercising.


I guess what I'm asking... Is the ability to run "10k" or bike 30 miles really something to brag about as if its a true athletic achievement?

Am I just being a tool?

[elgecko]

Hemingway took it one step further:

“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.”

[jmattbassplaya]

You might want to do some reworded in your OP. I don't think "euro trash" will go down all that well in these parts.

And to answer your question, if you have trouble running a mile then you really aren't in any position to call someone else out because that's something everyone should be able to do with little to no difficulty.

[Time Monkey]

But I can run 2k no problem.

[superbassman2000]

I'm going with tool...

you can't compare sports. Basketball is not Football is not hurdles is not jai-ali is not soccer is not pole vaulting. They all have different physical requirements.

[Time Monkey]

But running isn't pole vaulting.

[superbassman2000]

right...neither is basketball

[superbassman2000]

i guess my point is why is running "just exercise" while baseball is sport? Baseball is just throwing/hitting a ball and then running. so it's a sport if there is a ball/puck/pole, but if there isn't, then it's just exercise?

[()smoke()]

the irony is he plays a 'pastime'

[Time Monkey]

Its just the lack of competition, i guess. I realize he can do track meets and stuff like that...

But really, is there any pressure to perform? You aren't watching the clock wind down with two defenders bearing down on you while your trying to make the game winning buzzer shot running the 100m....

[superbassman2000]

let me put it this way--if your roommate just goes 10K, he's not doing much. However, most pro runners time themselves. Most races, like the boston marathon, put you up against other runners, so to say there is no competition is false. You are racing against other people. Your roommate is practicing...maybe not for any race or anything serious, so yes--you can say that running a 10K without paying attention to time is the same as baseball players at batting practice. They aren't trying to win a game, they are merely practicing. If your roommate ran in the big marathons out there, or was training for the Olympics, it'd be different.

and trust me, there is as much drama in running as there is in football, basketball, soccer and the rest--running 26 miles and on the final stretch another runner is catching up with you and you need to maintain your speed but your legs are giving out but you need to push harder to cross the finish line, much less stay upright...it can get big.

[Time Monkey]

Absolutely.

But he doesn't time himself, and he isn't training for a marathon.

Thus, I don't consider him athletic.

[()smoke()]

Originally Posted by Time Monkey

Its just the lack of competition, i guess. I realize he can do track meets and stuff like that...

But really, is there any pressure to perform? You aren't watching the clock wind down with two defenders bearing down on you while your trying to make the game winning buzzer shot running the 100m....

do you really think there is no pressure to perform running the 100m? have you ever watched or participated in competitive track?

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Time Monkey

Its just the lack of competition, i guess. I realize he can do track meets and stuff like that...

But really, is there any pressure to perform? You aren't watching the clock wind down with two defenders bearing down on you while your trying to make the game winning buzzer shot running the 100m....

You compete against yourself. In a lot of ways that's the greatest opponent you can ever face.

[superbassman2000]

ok. I will agree with you on that--your roommate isn't athletic, but running is still a sport

i am friends with a lot of runners and I can tell you that if he went up to them to brag about his 10K ability, they'd completely ignore him. Anybody can do 10K if you give them enough time. It's how quick you can do it that'll get their interest. My girlfriend won't even acknowledge a 5k being a legitimate running event lol

[Time Monkey]

Meh.

I guess i just don't get it.

[MakiSupaStar]

Tool

[Time Monkey]

Maki, I swear to God I will go down to LA and murder you with a pitchfork

[dangnewt]

Originally Posted by Time Monkey

.........
I guess what I'm asking... Is the ability to run "10k" or bike 30 miles really something to brag about as if its a true athletic achievement?
..................

Running 10k is something to brag about. If I am not mistaken, it sounds like your roommie is throwing down the gaunlet - are you gonna take that laying down or are you gonna start training?

I wouldn't brag about biking 30 miles unless I did it in less than less than 2 hours. I'd say that 50-60 miles is more akin to running a 10 k.

[Time Monkey]

Ya, I'll follow him in a 10k just as soon as he can get on base during one of our games. haha.